Amateurs who train there own horses?

[smithereens_86]

When I got my horse he was trained for Western Pleasure. I retrained him myself and have brought him along to showing 2nd/schooling 3rd with weekly lessons and the occasional (2-3x a year) clinic. We score in the mid-high 60’s before moving up to the next test/level. We have another half year at least at 2nd maybe another year before being ready to begin 3rd. We are still in the low-mid 60% range right now at 2nd, so we have a little work to do yet, and our 3rd level stuff is not show ring ready. Sure it may take a little longer, but it is a huge sense of a accomplishment and pride.

~Shelly~

[papony]

I think the quality and experience of amateurs has risen enormously over the past five years. The AA who has trained his/her mount to FEI is no longer a rarity, although I don’t know anyone who has done it “on their own” completely. These people usually have regular trainers who keep them on track.

I am an AA who is close to completing the “green bean to GP track” for the first time. I bought my mare as a barely broken 3 year old. Last year we had a fabulous first season at I-1 including some placings in Pan Am selection trails. She is now working all the Grand Prix and, God willing, will be strong enough to put it all together soon. I can’t say I’ve done it on my own, though. I work with a fabulous trainer who has made a dozen or so GP horses and held a top 5 world ranking. While I would like to do all the riding, there are stretches of time (like now) when my career and other business interests, media, and board committments make that impossible, so, in addition to regular lessons, I reap the benefits of having my trainer keep my horses fit and progressing toward my goals. I also had a GP schoolmaster a few years ago which gives me greater clarity in bringing my current horses along.

I think its exciting and encouraging to see the growing number of really good AAs! They are valuable ambassadors for the sport, no matter what level they are competing.

[Lgd1]

My first horse (who is still going at 19yo) I took from unbacked to competing Inter I and working at GP level. She’s had a break to have a foal and is hopefully going to compete again this year. She took 4-5 years to get from novice (1st level) to PSG starting as an 8yo, although she was doing event dressage up to novice level prior to that. She’s scored up to high 70’s in Advanced medium (L3 with changes) and mid 60’s at advanced (L4), low 60’s PSG

Number 2 is now 13yo and almost ready to go PSG - she was ready last year and then injured herself in the field. My niece brought her on initially from just backed to elementary level (L2) and then I picked up the ride when she was away at University. She’s taken longer, partly due to being less talented and partly due to time restrictions when niece was studying. She’s scoring up to mid-60’s medium/advanced medium (L3)

[system]

This is my first post as a member of this forum, although truth be told I have been a frequent visitor (lurker?!)
I have a 5 year-old gelding that I got as a weanling, and have done all the work with thus far. He is only schooling First level, but has good basics. Not to mention the trail monsters we have encountered and conquered :winkgrin: It is sometimes easy to give myself a break because I am an amateur working without a trainer (we get a lesson every couple of months, and for his sake I invested in some lessons on the longe )…But after reading these posts, I am so proud of my fellow (and talented!) unpaid trainers
I am certainly inspired by the success stories I read, and will continue to hold myself to a higher standard Thanks for sharing!

[CosMonster]

I trained my 3rd level horse myself with (usually) weekly lessons. He was a problem horse when I bought him, and had never done any dressage or even english riding to my knowledge. We probably would have progressed beyond 3rd (we were already working on some early 4th level stuff), but age and an old injury caught up with him and now he does 1st level stuff max, but usually we just hack around. After that I took a job training young horses for a breeding farm, so was no longer an amateur. I’ve regained that status since and am bringing a young horse along, but I don’t know if I count anymore.

I didn’t show him much due to finances, but I think our lowest score was a 62%.

[Sandy_M]

[QUOTE=dresstar;3095056]
How many amateurs train their own horses and ride above 1st level? You have a horse that you bought and are training, that has never been in training with anyone else? But you take lessons from someone on a regular basis? How many ride above third level that have trained their own horse. I am just curious how many do it? [/QUOTE]

Not above third level, but I took my now retired horse from green 4 year old, through several years as a hunter jumper, then to dressage through 2nd, schooling 3rd (never quite got there - arthritis caught up with him), doing only lessons and clinics. No one ever schooled him but me. (FWIW.He did win or place in USDF All Breeds almost every year I showed him from Training through Third, but I realize the All Breeds standards are a little more forgiving than the Open ones! LOL) HOWEVER… had I had the money, I would have loved to have given him time with a good trainer riding.